India to host West Indies in October-November

NEW DELHI: India will host West Indies for three Tests, five ODIs and a one-off T20I later this year. The Caribbean team is set to visit the country in October-November, and Sourav Ganguly, President of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) announced that Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will host the one-off T20I. The venues for the remaining fixtures however, are yet to be announced.

“We will host the Caribbean team for the one-off T20 international at the Eden Gardens,” Ganguly confirmed on Saturday.

West Indies last toured India for a bilateral series in 2014 for a limited-overs and a Test series, but following a pay dispute with the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board), the tour was abandoned midway after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala. Since, West Indies have only been to India for the World T20 in 2016, while India have toured the Caribbean twice – Tests in 2016 and limited-overs series (five ODIs and one T20I) in 2017. India won both the legs.

Ganguly also added that Eden Gardens might host the IPL 2018 qualifiers provided Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is not able to. Pune was originally awarded two playoff matches (Eliminator and Qualifier-2) since these are usually held at the home venue of previous season’s runner-up. However, the Rising Pune Supergiants, who lost to the Mumbai Indians during last year’s final, are now no longer part of the tournament, other state associations were pushing for the spot.